What to see in Bournemouth

This area of the Dorset coast enjoys miles of sandy beaches, 2000 acres of parks and gardens, and two piers. While you are in the area, another must see is the castle at Corfe which is close by and is loaded with history. It's in a beautiful setting in this very picturesque part of the English countryside and fantastic views of the Jurassic Coast can be seen from the top of the hill leading up to the tower of the castle.

Corfe Castle itself is located between the seaside resort towns of Swanage and Wareham. Wareham being another scenic area on the Dorset coast.

Actually, this seaside town of Bournemouth was developed by the Victorians. A Dorset squire named Lewis Tregonwell founded this town in 1811, when he built a summer home on the site of what is now the Royal Exeter Hotel. Now many hotels are available including holiday cottages, bed and breakfast and camping facilities in Dorset UK.

The Royal Exeter Hotel was the only building, apart from an inn, on the wild stretch of heathland that followed the sweeping curve of Poole Bay from Hengistbury Head in the east to Durlston Head in the west. The coastline could have been made for the holidaymaker: it is rugged and split by deep ravines, called chines, that open out to the sea.

For all the biggest names under one roof compete here at the Quadrant Centre on Old Christchurch Road. The Avenue Shopping Centre on Commercial Road or the massive Castlepoint Shopping Park on Castle Lane West.

The smaller boutiques and specialist shops are to be found in the town centre in the streets around The Square. These streets are mostly car-free and make for pleasant promenades. There are a number of old Victorian shopping arcades with clothing boutiques, jewellers and art shops including the Bournemouth Arcade linking Westover Road with Old Christchurch Road. Westover Road is Bournemouth’s answer to London’s Sloane Street with the latest designer clothing boutiques.

On Old Christchurch Road, you will find the traditional department stores Beales and Dingles. The district just to the west of the town centre, Westbourne, is known for its designer clothes and interior design shops and has its own Victorian shopping arcade.

Boscombe to the east of the town centre has an excellent street market on Thursdays and Saturdays selling fresh produce and clothing and nearby Pokesdown is good for antiques shops.

The railway came to the Dorset coast in 1870 bringing
more visitors, but the town had little to offer in the way
of entertainment until the first Winter Gardens were built near the seafronr in 1875.
This building was used as a concert hall until 1935, when it was dismantled and replaced by an indoor bowling green, the first in the country.

The building was taken over by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and shortly after the war it was discovered that the hall had good acoustic properties.
The Winter Gardens then became the permanent home of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Fifty years passed before this resort had another major centre for entertainment and this was called the Pavilion of course. The Pavilion was opened in 1929 and includes a 1,600 seat theatre, ballroom and restaurant with terraces overlooking the Lower Gardens through which flows the Bourne Stream.

The Lower Gardens are the hub of Bournemouth, which is the family vacation seafront. They lie in a valley, bordered on one side by footpaths winding among pine trees where squirrels live.

These gardens follow the Bourne, to form the Central Gardens and Upper Gardens from which a short walk leads to Meyrick Park, a pine-clad estate of 154 acres.

Robert Louis Stevenson is here. This famous literary figure is also connected with this seaside town. Bournemouth's salty and pine-scented air was advertised as a cure, or at least a relief for that scourge of tuberculosis which plagued Victorian England, and of course the reason Stevenson arrived in town for the cure.

Casa Magni Shelley Museum isn't far away - this museum is the only one in the world which is focuses on the life and works of the famous Romantic poet. The museum is housed in Shelley House where the poet's son lived from 1849-89.

The Russell Museum Cotes Art gallery and museum specialises in Victoriana.
The building itself is an interesting example of Victorian architecture with a large conservatory, bow-fronted upper windows and pinnacled roof.

Some churchs in town. There are five churchs here, and all of them are listed as being of architectural or historical interest. The only one of great antiquity being St Andrew's at Kinson, which has a 12th century chancel.

St Peters in Hinton Road, was completed in 1879 in the Gothic style and has a square tower and a spire. In the churchyard is the Shelley Tomb, burial place of Mary Shelley (1797 - 1851) the author of the novel Frankenstein and wife of the poet Percy Bysshe-Shelley.

Britain is undergoing a food culture revolution at the moment, with a desire for locally grown, organic produce and less processed foods. Driven by the country’s top chefs, this movement has been particularly strong in the southwest, with Dorset becoming the location for celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall’s organic farm, River Cottage.

Bournemouth boasts some of Britain’s best local seafood as well as a cosmopolitan mix of worldwide cuisines. Visit the Tourist Information Centre when you arrive in Bournemouth for a FREE Eating Out Guide.

Magnums
This is a great place to meet friends and have a drink or a home cooked dish. They also have a wide selection of starters to share.
Address: 20 Post Office Road
Internet

Langtry Restaurant
Built by King Edward VII, in 1877, for his mistress Lillie Langtry, it offers real history and original interior with stained glass and tapestries and a stylish, modern traditional menu from a rising chef.
Address: Langtry Manor,
26 Derby Road,
East Cliff
Internet

La Roche
The best in fine dining at this water’s edge restaurant in the Haven Hotel on Poole’s Sandbanks. An emphasis on local produce includes Dorset lamb and monkfish.
Address: Haven Hotel,
Banks Road,
Sandbanks,
Poole
Internet

Bayview Brasserie & Tearooms
Set in the landscaped gardens of Compton Acres, with wonderful sea views. They offer light lunches and teas.
Address: Compton Acres,
Canford Cliffs
Internet

West Beach Restaurant
Located on the beach next to the pier, with large glass frontage offering great sea views, this restaurant has fresh seafood brought daily from the south coast’s top fish markets. Try their West Beach fish soup.
Address: Pier Approach
Internet

Coriander
Long-established Mexican restaurant in the heart of the town with a fun, lively atmosphere and a menu full of fajitas, enchiladas, burritos and more. Good for vegetarians.
Address: 22 Richmond Hill
Internet

Bistro On The Beach
This café restaurant is located right on the beach, with spectacular views. They have a café menu during the day, and turns into a restaurant in the evening, with a good selection of fresh fish.
Address: Solent Promenade,
Southbourne Coast Road

Retro
Located in the heart of the Middle Eastern food district of Bournemouth, this traditional Lebanese restaurant offers a variety of charcoal grills dishes in an authentic atmosphere.
Address: 79-81 Charminster Road
Internet

Beechcroft Place
Luxury Bed & Breakfast in England's Scenic Dorset Coast & New Forest. Real Luxury (non-smoking) En-Suite Bedrooms each with private breakfast room & outside door entry. Ample Car Parking.
106 Lymington Road,
Highcliffe,
Dorset,
Internet:
beachmeetsforest

Beach Lodge
An eight-bedroom bed and breakfast perfectly located in a tree lined avenue only two minutes walk from Southbourne’s Blue Flag beach, this beautiful coastline has seven miles of award winning sands and stunning views across Poole Bay.
61 Grand Avenue,
Southbourne,
Dorset
Internet:
beach-lodge

Silver How Hotel
Family run hotel with warm friendly atmosphere. Home cooked food. Emphasis on homliness. Good entertainment programme. Open all year.
5 West Cliff Gardens,
West Cliff,
Internet:
silverhowhotel

Fielden Court Hotel
Delightful high-quality guesthouse 200 yards from clifftop paths leading down to Bournemouth's 7 miles of stunning sandy award-winning beaches. Ideally situated for all the area has to offer. Delicious breakfasts, lovely rooms.
20 Southern road,
Bournemouth,
Dorset
Internet:
fieldencourthotel

Cremona Hotel
Our friendly hotel provides comfortable, clean, centrally heated rooms all with tea and coffee making facilities, colour TV and satellite channels. Access to you is available at all times with your own keys to your room and the hotel.
61 St. Michael's Road,
Bournemouth,
Dorset,
Internet:
cremona

Train:
Taking the train is a fun and easy way to enjoy the fabulous scenery of Hampshire and Dorest. Click the link and scroll down to get information at Waterloo Mainline Station in London.

Waterloo station has a direct and fairly frequent high speed train services to Bournemouth, Dorset via Winchester in Hampshire.

Driving:
From London, make your way to the (M25) motorway and connect to the (M3) motorway south west of London. The motorways are clearly marked in blue and show which connection to take.

From the (M3) motorway head towards Winchester, which eventially becomes the (M27). The (M27) splits just past Eastliegh, and goes towards Portsmouth, and the (M271) towards Southampton.

Always drive towards Bournemouth on the (M27) until it becomes the (A31) at Cadnum, and follow towards Bournemouth and Poole in Dorset, (the (A) roads are marked in green).

Getting around this seaside resort town is very easy if you take the bus.

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